Welcome to Africa das Joaninhas

I'm Patrícia, I have 36 years old and I'm the mother of a 9 years old girl, Gabriela Sol and I'm Portuguese. My small land is Africa das Joaninhas, the name came from the name given to the surrounding country side area, Africa, and the fact that there is a lot of ladybugs(joaninhas) in my field.
My background is Permaculture ( Fukuoka, Bill Mollison) and I'm also Inspired by Emilia Hazelip synergetic garden work and Linda Woodrow Mandala Garden.
At the moment I'm building new swales, planning the introdution of a food forest and developing technics and tools to achive sustainability. My goal is to promote a ecological and sustainable style of live starting by selling the vegetables from the garden only locally.
I/We start to design a Permaculture project for the farm. I intend to start a food forest, first by creating a nursery or trees with the intent of reforesting the 1,5ha of land.
I'm producing the most varied products, starting from fresh vegetables, fruit, medicinal herbs, jams, olives and olive oil, and I'm still open to ideas for new products.
The work is flexible and can be adapted to any person, even with special needs .

Acommodation:
I have the possibility of camping or parking an caravan.
My car is commercial so it only has two places.

At the farm:
The little house has 15m2 room with fireplac
e, kitchen utensils ,a table and chairs. Outside is a cold water shower and tow solar showers. Hot shower can be improvised if there's no sun.There's a solar panel and it's possible to charge mobils and pc.
Outside I have a provisional kitchen with everything that is necessary. to cook. We cook on the fire, on the rocket stove or ta wood oven.
The dry toilet recently burned out so I'm planning to build a new one. I have one at the garden.

Food:
The food is Vegetarian, can be Vegan and Raw.
The food will be cooked by all.
Breakfast is normally: Rice and Soya milk BIO, Cereals and Fruit. If you would like other things please ask me in advance.
Lunch and Dinner: Vegetables from the Crop, Cereals, beans, lentils, soya,etc. Most organic.

I don't provide: butter, cheese, chocolate, café, If I buy it for me I will share with volunteers.


I have one bicycle that can be used by the volunteers to go to the village 3km away from the farm or to explore the surrounding areas. I also have a baby chair and a children's trailer that support up to 40kilos.
All people, adults, children and animals are welcome!

I have know an mobile internet connection that can be use randomly also at the farm.